Elevator conveyer



July 31, 1951 R. H. CHRISTENSEN ELEVATOR CONVEYER Filed March 12} 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l H. Christensen INVENTOR.

Q 1 (WWW Attorneys July 31, 195] Filed March 12, 1948 R. H. CHRISTENSEN ELEVATOR CONVEYER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ralph H. Christensen Patented July 31, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mthi'l iii'lifl fiilmr This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in elevator conveyors and more speclflcally pertains to a wheeled implement provided with an endless conveyor and which carries its own power source for operating the same, which implement is adjustably inclined by manipulation of its wheel supported toggles.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a portable, wheeled elevator conveyor of simple, sturdy and dependable construction; which shall carry its own power source for operating the elevatoryand which shall have an improved means for adjusting inclination and elevation of the lift.

An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a frame having an endless conveyor mounted thereon, together with a pair of support arms pivoted to the frame and having a toggle linkage terminally connected to the frame and to the arms for varyin the inclination of the support arms relative to the frame and thereby varying the elevation and inclination of the device. I

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a Windlass for operating the toggle hinge for raising and lowering the arms and the elevator.

Yet-'another feature of the invention resides in the provision of an axle secured to the frame upon the axis of pivotal connection of the arms thereto, which axle is operatively connected to the conveyor and to the power source.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this device, a preferred embodiment of which is illustrated, by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a satisfactory embodiment of an apparatus for carrying out the principles of the invention; I

Figure 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional detail view taken substantially from the plane of the broken section line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1, the wheeled support being shown in its extended position;

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the device shown in Figure 3, taken from the right end thereof and parts thereof being broken away; and.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view. parts being broken away to show the endless conveyor construction, and is taken from the lower end of the device from the side thereof.

1 Claim. (01. 198-233) Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views. attention is first directed to Figures 1 and 3, wherein it will be seen that a frame including side members ll of any suitabl construction, is provided with-an endless conveyor chain l2, see Figures 2 and 5, which chain has the customary paddles or flights l4 -and is rotatably mounted upon axles or shafts l6 and I8 journaled between the ends of the frame members.

As so far described, the frame work and the conveyor may be of conventional and known design, and in themselves form no part of this invention. In order to attain the purpose of the invention. a pair of support arms 20 are pivotally connected as at 22 to the frame members III at any convenient point along their length, but preferably substantially closer to the lower end thereof, which arms are provided with a transversely extending axle 24 having wheels 26 thereon, to constitute wheeled support for the device.

At the outer ends of the arms 20, there is provided a fulcrum shaft 28 to which are connected pivot'ally the lower ends of pairs of toggle links.

Each of the toggle links, as shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 3, comprises upper and lower links 30 and 22, hinged at their adjacent extremities as at 34, and terminally connected as at 36 and 28 to the frame members l0 and to the ends of the arms 20.

It is to be noted that each of the upper links 30 is provided with a right angularly disposed integral arm or extension 31, the outer ends of these arms 31 being attached to the extremities of a chain bar, or other actuating member 38.

It should be here noted that the toggle links are so arranged that the hinged end 34 is disposed on the opposite side of the line joining the pivots 36 and 28, from the pivot connection 22. By means of the eye 40, a pulley or sheave 42 is swiveled to the actuating member 38, and has entrained thereover a cable 44 which is terminally connected to one of thearms 20, and has the other end connected to the Windlass drum 48 carried by a transverse shaft 48 journaled in the veyor. For this purpose, an axle 58, is journaled upon one of the frame members l upon the axis of pivotal movement of the arms 20 thereon.

and this axle 58 is provided with a pulley 60 which is connected as bya belt 62 with the motor or engine 56, and with a sprocket wheel 54 which is connected as by a sprocket chain 66 with a similar wheel 68, as shown, upon the axle or shaft l8 whereby the elevator is operated.

As will be readily understood, the location of the axle 58 upon the axis of pivotal movement of the arms upon the frame, assures that the gearing connecting the motor 56 with the endless conveyor l2 will not be interrupted or interfered with throughout any of the positions of angular adjustment of the arms 20, and of the motor 56 carried thereby, with respect to the frame member l0.

From the foregoing, it is felt that the manner of operating the device and its advantages will be readily understood. With the device in its lowered position as shown in Figure 1, the same tions and equivalents may be resorted to falling is adapted for convenient transportation about a farm or the like by any suitable towing vehicle. When it is desired to erect and use the elevator lift, it is merely necessary to operate the Windlass handle 46 and by means of the windlass drum 46 wheeled in cable 44, which by 88, operate on the arm 36 of the upper link, with a bell crank effect, to initiate the opening of the t gle links 30 and 32, until the device is assemmeans of the pulley 42 and actuatin member leverage upon the hinge of the toggle to start 1 the opening movement thereof, it being observed that a greater mechanical advantage is afforded for the opening or additional movement than if the cable were directly attached to the hinge 34. In order to lower the device for storage or for transportation, it is merely necessary to disengage the pawl 54 from the ratchet 52, and to unwind the windlass 46, thereby permitting the weight of the device to cause breaking of the toggle, and lowering of the device to rest or idle .position.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided a compact device, one in which the lifting movement of the elevated frame occurs well behind the hinge of the toggles; wherein during the lifting operation the support does not impart a twist to the frame work or wheels of the device; wherein ample mechanical advantage is imparted to the device with a minimum amount of elements, ears and the like} wherein the device Having described the within the scope of the appended claim.

invention, what is claimed as new is: I

Anelevator lift comprising a frame with an endless conveyor mounted thereon, said frame being supported by one end resting on the ground and by;an adjustable support intermediate its ends, said adjustable support comprising a pair of support arms pivoted at one end to said frame intermediate the ends of the latter and at their ends journaling support wheels, pairs of terminally pivoted upper and lower links forming a toggle, the upper ends of the upper links being fixedly pivoted to said frame intermediate said frame in spaced relation to said support arms, the lower ends of said lower links being pivoted to the extremities of said support arms, means connected with the connecting pivot of the upper and lower links for angularly moving-said links to vary the distance of the support wheels from theframe. said last means including a crank journaled on said support arms, intermediate their ends, and connecting means attaching said crank to the hinge of said toggle links, the connecting means including arms rigidly and angularly attachedto the upper links at their pivot points, and a cable connecting said arms with said crank.

RALPH H. CHRISTENSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are'of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

